THE ABC OF СВА (Cant be arsed)

Mustering the motivation to ride when the elements are against us can seem nigh-on impossible. Dr Josephine Perry outlines five key principles to help get us out the door

- Dr Josephine Perry

At this time of year, in the depths of winter, when the sun barely rises, rain hammers on the window and the weather app teases that it might just go above zero later, it can be hard to find the motivation to ride. One look outside is often all it takes for you to conclude, ‘I can’t be arsed’. That CBA impulse can seem impossible to overcome – but resilient, all-weather riders prove that it is possible. So how can we learn from them? There are few better people to ask than Steve Cummings, director of racing of Team Ineos Grenadiers and someone who, as a rider, was renowned for thriving in harsh conditions? My opening question: “Who on earth would go out riding on a day like this?”

“Me,” Cummings replies. “Just got back.” But why, I ask. “I see it as my duty to take care of myself; to look after my mental health and to respect my body so as not to become a burden.” He is beautifully outlining why motivation matters so much. When you have a purpose and know your ‘why’, you will get out of the door on even the toughest of days. Cummings is crystal clear about his reasons for keeping up old habits.

From what I observe in my sport psychology clinic, about 20% of riders have absolutely no problem with motivation. They are often highly perfectionistic, have hard work as a core belief and are often motivated to the point where they overtrain, risking injury or burnout. For the other 80% of us, though, we’re much more attuned to the threat function in our brain which loudly points out that the weather is rubbish, the roads are risky, with punctures and crashes more likely – so better to stay home. Why would a rational person override these thoughts?